Celtics Beat Starter-less Nets: Celtics 89, Nets 70

Kevin Garnett, PF6-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 12 REB | 1 AST | 14 PTS | +15Whenever KG can produce like this in only 26 minutes, it’s an A. An A for Garnett, his bulky knee, and the Celtics.

Paul Pierce, SF8-14 FG | 5-7 FT | 6 REB | 5 AST | 24 PTS | +16Pierce was huge in the third quarter when the Celtics were able to stretch the lead. He looked like himself 5 years ago when he was the team and offense. Pierce stepped up huge in Ray Allen’s absence and is showing no ill-effects from his injured foot.

Jermaine O’Neal, C1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -5Not exactly the performance Celtics’ fans were hoping to see considering he’s had a two-game break. The last time JO was at the Garden he had his best game in two years. Tonight, he was just lucky to only have to play 18 minutes.

Keyon Dooling, PG2-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 5 PTS | +18Dooling showed up late to party, scoring his lone three point field goal in the third quarter. Dooling was supposed to be the perfect spot starter in the event Allen couldn’t go and he underwhelmed mightily in his first opportunity. He also let MarShon Brooks look like Kobe Bryant in the first half. It’s obvious Brooks can score, but the offseason hope was that Dooling could be a reliable defender off the bench and he was anything but tonight.

Rajon Rondo, PG4-8 FG | 0-3 FT | 0 REB | 12 AST | 8 PTS | +14I’m being a little harsh but as I in-game tweeted Rondo really played down to his point guard competition letting Sundiata Gaines pretty much outplay him. It’s hard not to be a Gaines’ fan as everyone likes a rags-to-riches story but you can be sure that if Deron Williams played tonight you would have seen a much different Rondo. Still, 12 assists without Ray Allen lighting it up sure is a nice stat line.

Marquis Daniels, SG0-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS | +3Daniels had what we would affectionately call an “O-for” tonight. He looked like he was having his way with nearly every defender he matched up with and yet he could not put the ball in the bucket. Seriously, not one. He missed all seven shots.

Avery Bradley, SG4-8 FG | 2-3 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 11 PTS | +8Paul Flannery of WEEI.com tweeted earlier that Bradley most-likely had the best game of his career. Hard to argue with @PFlanns’ assessment. His stats don’t leap out at you (other than maybe the double digit scoring) but tonight, AB looked like an NBA player. Moments like that for him have been basically non-existent.

Five Things We Saw

MarShon Brooks can flat out score, but he can also blow a tire. It’s sad when a young player gets hurt in the middle of a game where he’s playing well. In Brooks’ case, he’s been playing well for a stretch of games and luckily his injury didn’t seem that bad. His absence for the rest of the bloodbath was almost definitely precautionary.

The Nets are terrible on defense, which is really surprising for an Avery Johnson coached team. My mother always told me, “you make do with what you have” but when you have “nothing”, and in tonight’s case, not even your starting “nothing” (save for Deron Williams) you end up with nothing. Nothing is almost always a 19 point loss.

Despite getting injured, the MarShon Brooks vs. JuJuan Johnson in the “Wuddah Cuddah Shuddah Battle” had a clear winner tonight. Johnson seemed frustrated in the 5 minutes of garbage time and doesn’t look like he’s used to not playing. Meanwhile, E’Twaun Moore looks excited and ready to score whenever he gets in the game.

Garnett, as usual, was loving Gino tonight. Lovin’ it so much, he was desperately trying to give a play-by-play to a seemingly unwilling Chris Wilcox. Some people love Gino, others can’t handle the second-hand embarrassment. If it was anything but a victory lap, I would probably “go Wilcox” every time I saw it.

Low minutes for everyone. Every starter played less minutes than they are accustomed which means two things: 1) the players who play a lot got some extra rest; and 2) the players that don’t play a lot got some extra experience. Everybody wins…except the Nets.

As we concentrate on Cs Ball, with talents meldin'
You know who started for the Nets? Williams–Shelden!
Good job, Cs, great rotations, Doc,
Who is finding some rhythm for his fledgling flock!

Batman

#FreeChrisForsberg

http://twitter.com/Donnie_Peters @Donnie_Peters

Love the new post-game review. Maybe the top line could be laid out slightly better as it appears to be bunched on the screen, but overall looks really solid. Not too mention, all the information provided here was great.

Ryan DeGama

Clear your internet history and see if it looks the same way….

I_Love_Green

Had the same problem, just clear your cache.

http://twitter.com/Donnie_Peters @Donnie_Peters

Worked, thanks for that tip.

I_Love_Green

I just really really really wish Moore and Johnson would get more playing time. Moore could be a legit scoring threat off the bench for us.

smalltownID

I agree. I want to see Moore. I am all about developing guys (e.g. Bradley) if it isn't thwarting other players…like Moore

James Patrick

love the new page! and love a celtics victory! kudos!

Batman

I think we’re really ruining JJJ’s confidence by letting him rot on the bench. He thinks he can contribute NOW and I say see if he can

I_Love_Green

I think me and you should talk to Doc about that tomorrow.

smalltownID

Celtics Hub. How about you start working on a post about the fact that 90% of former role-playing celtics drop off significantly after they leave Boston? Making up numbers here but that is the point. It would be a real interesting piece after we acquire a little more data as the season progresses. I suppose Delonte, Tony Allen, and about nobody else will have better stats post-C's compared to guys like Posey, Powe, House, BBD, Semih (actually have no idea how he's doing), Shelden-Robinson-BillWalker (might be exceptions bc they weren't good here). If Kendrick makes it through the season unscathed than he also may be an exception.

It may get some play from Zach Lowe and free agents will get the hint, your career is over once you leave Boston!

Batman

Well T.A Actually got better after he left

ElRoz

TA got better because the team he was on let him do more on offense – and that was not necessarily a good thing. That's why they are the Grizzlies and not Boston. There are a lot of teams where coaches don't establish game discipline …had TA played for Phil Jackson, you'd see him on a short leash on offense I can guarantee that.

ripsonics

ok number 1 – site is B.A.

Secondly.. I think we have a pretty damn good team here. And yes we are beating bad teams, but I have always said and heard from around the league – the mark of a good team, is beating teams you are supposed to beat. And so far, we have done that four times in a row. Well Done.

I cannot believe how well Brandon Bass is playing.. lets do a mini comparison to Glen Davis, shall we?

So you can make an argument that Bass has better numbers because he is playing more, but that argument would be dumb. He is night and day a better fit for this team, and Otis Smith should be fired.

Lastly, I really hope that Doc continues to play Avery Bradley. He is probably the best on ball defender we have on the team, and will be needed in the playoffs.. So DOC if you read this….Please keep playing Avery cause he will deliver, I promise you that.

Good win, boring game.

Go C's

NHBluesMan

Bass is on the All-Star ballot, but if he keeps playing the way he has been, i think he could be a legitimate candidate for 6th man of the year. Anyone else with me on this?

Also, i really feel like our season will become make or break based on the bench… love what i've seen from Stiemsma so far, especially timing with blocks, Bass is a given, and if Bradley gets more comfortable with his offense, he'll see some serious minutes and could be a starter when Ray Ray leaves.

I do feel bad for JJ and Moore though, i want to see them in the games when it ISN'T garbage time so they can get some confidence into them

phreesh

I think Garnett has a 'balky' knee unless he's been doing a lot of knee lifts lately.

Otherwise, another thumbs up for the new format.

http://CelticsHub.com Brendan Jackson

what's in a vowel…besides all meaning and distinction…?

W2.

Excellent new look. A cut above the rest for sure!

Guest

Team would look even better with Marshon, dammit. Mark my words celticshub members! One of the worst draft day trades ever! Its early, but I am calling it now just because.

-still angry Celtics/PC Friars fan

Rolltide3332

First. I believe we should move KG to center and let Bass be starting PF. Maybe JO will try harder to earn his spot if he's coming off the bench. Bass has surely shown that he deserves to be there. he should have more foul shots because the Nets defenders were basically raping him down low to slow Bass down. PLEASE give Stiemsma more minutes. We need more hard workers like him to bring this team alive.

ElRoz

I don't know if this is the way to motivate JO.

Regardless, I want to see some reserve strength in the bench, and that's why they need Bass off the bench along with Daniels.